RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State (28-17, 11-12 ACC) capitalized on early miscues by No. 4 Georgia Tech (35-9, 16-7 ACC), and Cory Mazzoni scattered four hits over seven innings to lead the Wolfpack to a 4-2 victory and series clinch Saturday at Doak Field.
Tech has now lost four of its last six games, all four losses coming in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Jackets committed three errors Saturday, and NC State took advantage of Tech’s miscues by scoring runs on a walk, hit batsman, fielder’s choice and a throwing error.
“We spotted them early by walking guys and hitting guys, and we made it really easy for them to score,” coach Danny Hall said. “We had opportunities to score and then we hit into double plays. That’s a bad recipe when you’re trying to come from behind. You can’t strike out with guys on base and you can’t hit into double plays, because you just make it easy for them to beat you, and that’s what happened today.”
Junior Brandon Cumpton started on the mound for the Jackets, and ran into some control issues early. The right-hander loaded the bases with a walk on NC State’s Chris Schaeffer, then walked in a run a batter later as the Jackets fell down 1-0 in the first inning. Cumpton hit Harold Riggins on the ensuing at-bat to score another for the Wolfpack.
Cumpton (6-2) lost for the second straight weekend, and just the second time this season after being hit with four runs (three earned) in 5 1/3 innings.
NC State jumped out to a 4-0 lead with two runs in the second frame.
Drew Poulk brought in a run with a fielder’s choice to second, before another run crossed the plate on a throwing error by Dietrich at short stop. Dietrich’s throw on an attempted double play sailed over the head of Tony Plagman at first.
NC State’s Mazzoni held the Jackets hit-less through four innings of play, before Tech finally grabbed a hit on a Jacob Esch single in the fifth.
Mazzoni scattered two runs on four hits in 7.0 innings of work, improving to 6-2 on the season.
The Jackets finally broke through with a run in the fifth, when freshman Brandon Thomas brought home Thomas Nichols from third with a RBI single to center.
Tech attempted a rally in the eighth, as junior Jeff Rowland and Dietrich reached with no outs to start the inning. Plagman singled through the left side to score Rowland from second, and cut the lead in half at 4-2.
Sophomore Matt Skole drew a walk on the next at-bat, but Cole Leonida struck out and Chase Burnette hit into a double play soon after to eliminate the threat. It was the third straight inning the Jackets hit into an inning ending double play.
NC State freshman Anthony Tzamtzis retired the side in the ninth for his first save of the season.
Tech will look to avoid a sweep Sunday, as the series concludes with a 1 p.m. start.